The players didn't disagree, and they responded with a much more spirited effort Monday in a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in a shootout that made for a happy 44th birthday for Jaromir Jagr against his former team at the BB&T Center.

The Panthers were missing their two best shootout players with Aleksander Barkov and Brandon Pirri out with injuries but compensated for a much needed victory.

They are 6-1 in shootouts this season.

Bjugstad scored early for Florida and Montoya made 27 saves in regulation before giving up the equalizer to Chris Kunitz with just over three minutes remaining.

"It feels really good. It's a huge win for our hockey team," said Jokinen, who slipped the winner past Marc-Andre Fleury, a former teammate when he played for the Penguins.

"A couple losses [last weekend], unhappy how we played. So pretty happy with how we responded tonight."

Following morning skate, Bjugstad said, "It was more [about] effort this past weekend. A lot times that's what it comes down to, winning the one-on-one puck battles and outworking the opponent."

The Panthers did a much better job of that, particuarly evident on the defensive effort, which was warranted after being outscored 10-3 in losses to St. Louis and Nashville.

Montoya got the start in place of Roberto Luongo, who has given up three or more goals in his past five starts.

"It's time for Al," Panthers coach Gerard Gallant said. "He's fresh and he's ready to go, and he's been great for us all year."

Montoya was solid all night, including stopping Carl Hagelin on a shorthanded breakaway in the third period. He later gloved a sizzler from Olli Maatta in the high slot.

But Kunitz circled around and broke the spell from the right circle after the Panthers failed to add to their lead on a power play.

"They got a goal real late in the third period, but the boys stuck with it," Montoya said. "The guys kind of made my job easy tonight. They pulled a couple pucks out of the net. A couple sick guys, couple hurt guys — everyone battled through it and put it all on the line for this game tonight."

For the first time on the homestand the Panthers had a lead after the first period. That has been a key component of their success as the now are 21-2-1 when doing so.

They got the fast start they were hoping for when Bjugstad scored 7 1/2 minutes in on a play triggered by Alex Petrovic. The defenseman took a shot from the left point, and when Brian Campbell steered the rebound back to him, Petrovic let fly again toward Bjugstad, who was camped to the left of the net for an easy slam-dunk.

It was a much-needed goal for Bjugstad, who had only two and five points in 18 previous games since missing December because of migraines.

With five minutes left in the period, Crosby poked the puck in the net out of a scrum around the Panthers net, but the whistle blew before it cross the line so the goal was waved off.

With four recent call-ups from the AHL in the lineup due to a recent spate of injuries, Gallant shuffled all four lines due to necessity and a quest to ignite a suddenly stagnant offense.

"We needed a good, solid team game," Gallant said. "I was really happy with the way our guys battled. We got embarrassed on the weekend, so it was a big two points for us."

Jagr was on a newly formed line centered by Pittsburgh native Vincent Trocheck and Reilly Smith on the other wing.

Fans greeted him with signs bearing birthday wishes during warmups. There was a montage of recorded birthday wishes on the video board for Jagr from teammates and others, including long-time Penguins broadcaster Mike Lange.

Jagr had recorded two goals and four assists on his birthday during his career, but the last goal was in 1999.

He had a chance in the first five minutes, waltzing through the slot for a centering feed from Smith, but Fleury wasn't in the gift-giving mood.

Injury update

Center Aleksander Barkov and defenseman Erik Gudbranson skated prior to the morning session but it was uncertain if they will return as soon as Thursday against San Jose. Captain Willie Mitchell has not yet begun skating and his return appears farther off.

Forwards Brandon Pirri (ankle) and Quinton Howden (possible concussion) were injured in Saturday's loss to the Predators on hits that did not draw penalties, eliciting Gallant's ire and prompting his ejection.

Gallant said Pirri's injury wasn't as serious as initially suspected but that the forward would miss at least two weeks. Howden, who took a shoulder to the head from Anthony Bitetto, was listed as day-to-day.

Play ball

Miami Marlins ace pitcher Jose Fernandez participated in the ceremonial puck drop as part of Marlins takeover night at the BB&T Center. Fernandez and fellow pitchers Jarred Cosart and Mike Dunn signed autographs before the game and the Panthers promoted Saturday's FanFest at Marlins Park.

The Cuban-born right-hander was attending his first hockey game, though he has watched on TV.

Cosart, who is from the Houston area, said he sees similarities between the Panthers and Marlins and could envision the baseball team making a similar rise this season.

"It's a pretty young team, you've got a little mix. Jagr, 44, Ichiro, 41 — two guys that are ambassadors of the game. They've been around a long time, they go about their business the right way, so as young guys you learn from them," Cosart said.

"Watching these guys, I play for the Miami Marlins and I'm rooting for the Florida Panthers to win a Stanley Cup playoff. I hope they're doing the same thing if we get to the playoffs."